New beauty contest ditches swimsuit competition, puts Filipino culture front and center
Newly-crowned Miss Supranational Philippines Pauline Amelinckx
MANILA, Philippines — A new national competition will be launched next month, and it will be different from the multitude of pageants Filipinos have been accustomed to. For one, it will ditch the swimsuit segment which has been a staple in beauty contests conducted all over the country.
“There will be no swimsuits on stage,” Empire Philippines Head Jonas Gaffud told the Inquirer in an online interview when asked about his team’s new “The Miss Philippines Fashion and Beauty Pageant,” which will be launched next month.
But the candidates may still wear bathing suits if there are activities or photoshoots conducted in a beach setting of a swimming pool, he was quick to clarify. He said the decision not to have a swimsuit contest on the actual competition stage was because, “this is more educational. We are looking for a speaker and good ambassador for the global Filipino.”
Gaffud also said: “This will not be your usual pageant. We will promote food, local businesses, and our culture around the world.”
Empire Philippines Head Jonas Gaffud/ARMIN P. ADINA
He said the contest itself will already have an international scope because of the participation of Filipino communities from different parts of the world. “And within the Philippines, the contestants will be global,” Gaffud added.
He noted that the global Philippine footprint is already being set by third generation Filipinos, that is why he found it imperative to showcase the country’s culture, tradition, and heritage on an international scope.
“Koreans were able to promote their culture through K-Pop and K-dramas. This is my contribution to promote ours to the world,” Gaffud declared. He also shared mulling over scrapping the words “pageant” and “beauty” from the competition’s title. “So as not to be superficial, and be more inclusive,” he explained.
More pertinent details about the new national contest will be revealed next month at the official launch of the competition.
An insider revealed that the new competition will choose the Philippines’ next representatives to the Miss Supranational and Miss Charm pageants. Pauline Amelinckx and Krishnah Gravidez, who both made it to the final five of the 2023 Miss Universe Philippines pageant, had already been proclaimed as the country’s bets to the said international competitions.
Amelinckx, who has joined the Miss Universe Philippines pageant three times, will compete in the 14th Miss Supranational pageant in Poland in July, while Gravidez will participate in the second Miss Charm contest in Vietnam next year. EDV
